主題：真正的富有
在默想今天福音的教訓之前，讓我們填補從上一個主日到今個主日，福音中的空缺。在上星期的福音，我們聽到耶穌基督召叫伯多祿的故事。路加版比較豐富，把召叫伯多祿的事蹟放在網漁的神蹟之中，使我們明白到，放棄一切去跟隨耶穌基督傳福音，是值得的，是不枉此生的。然後，路加跟隨馬爾谷的鋪排，記載了耶穌基督所行的一些醫治神蹟，並因此引發與法利塞人的一連串衝突。之後，耶穌基督上山徹夜祈禱，然後從門徒中選出十二宗徒。今天的福音說「耶穌和那十二人下山，站在一塊平地上。」（路6:17），就是選拔了十二宗徒後，與他們一起下山，面向群眾，開始傳福音的工作。
今天所讀的福音，並沒有包括向群眾講道治病驅魔的部份（6:18-19）。群眾與門徒不同，他們得到所需要的治療，或者解決生活問題的道理之後，不一定會繼續跟隨耶穌基督。門徒是指那些願意跟隨耶穌基督生活一段時間，跟祂學習天國道理的人。耶穌基督就是對著這一群人，而不是一般的群眾，講述作為基督徒，作為祂的跟隨者，應有的生活態度。
今天的福音，是「真福八端」的路加版，沒有八端真福這麼多，而是四福、四禍。雖然形式不同，但都是「天國大憲章」，是基督徒生活的「基本法」。瑪竇把耶穌基督，塑造成為一個比梅瑟更偉大的導師。因此，瑪竇版的「真福八端」更精細，更完備。「所以你們應當是成全的，如同你們的天父是成全的一樣。」（瑪5:48）路加卻把耶穌基督，塑造成為一個慈悲的牧者。祂體諒罪人的軟弱，對罪人並不苛求。下星期我們就會讀到：「你們應當慈悲，就像你們的父那樣慈悲。」（路6:36）所以，祇列出四福、四禍便足夠了，並沒有包括「溫良、憐憫、心裡潔淨和締造和平」（瑪5:5-9），也並沒有把貧窮靈性化到精神上，把飢餓昇華到正義上。那麼，我們從路加版的真福，體會到耶穌基督的心意是怎樣的呢？
路加版非常實在，說「現今」和「將要」，不像瑪竇版那裡超越時空，放諸四海皆準！路加深明人的有限，顧此會失彼。當我們把大部份，甚至全部精神時間放在世俗事務，無論是財帛抑或是名譽地位方面，成為富有的時候，我們在其他方面，例如健康、人際關係甚至靈性生命方面，必有損失。「因為你們已獲得了你們的安慰！」（路6:24）在「富翁和拉匝祿」的比喻中，路加更清楚明白地說：「孩子，你應記得你活著的時候，已享盡了你的福！」（16:25）「盡」這個中文翻譯，真教人拍案叫絕。很多人祇知進，不知退，包括執事我在內。這十天臥床休養，體會良多！
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| 痊癒後 | 康復中 |
感謝天主，感謝路加醫生，我終於病倒了，有機會停下來反省了。我對疾病並不陌生，與糖尿病共眠了三十年，並且體會到天主在疾病所帶來的不便和痛苦中，有著豐厚的祝福！今次並不例外，我看到了自己的貧窮所在！在開始講論四福四禍前，「耶穌舉目望著祂的門徒說！」（6:20）原來耶穌基督一直望著我，對著我說話，而我卻把目光放錯了在事務上，錯過了與基督的目光相遇。因此，無論我如何盡心盡力地探監、探清潔工人和主持講座退省等，永遠也不會在「這些最小兄弟中的一個」（瑪25:40）服事到耶穌基督！因為我沒有望著耶穌基督，沒有增進彼此的關係，沒有掌握到天父的旨意。簡而言之，我的方向錯了，優次錯了！慢下來，祈禱啊！
各位兄弟姊妹，無論做甚麼事，不要貪婪冒進，要與耶穌基督的眼光相遇，不要白費功夫！
天主保祐！
2016年沒有常年期第六主日
Sixth Ordinary Sunday, Year C
Theme: Genuine Richness
Before we meditate the teachings of today's gospel, let us fill up the gaps between last Sunday and today. In last Sunday's gospel, we read of the story of the call of Peter. The Lucan version is richer. Luke puts the story in the context of the miraculous catch to show us that it is worthwhile, it is not a waste of our life to abandon everything to follow Jesus to evangelize. Later, Luke follows Mark's structure and tells of some Jesus' healing miracles which ignited the subsequent conflicts with the Pharisees. After that, Jesus Christ departed to the mountain to spend the night in prayer. When day came, he called the disciples and chose among them the Twelve. So, today's gospel begins with "And Jesus came down with the Twelve and stood on a stretch of level ground." (Luke 6:17). That is to say, after electing the Twelve, Jesus came down with them, facing the crowd and began their evangelization works.
The gospel we read today skips the part of preaching, healing and exorcism among the crowd (6:18-19). The crowd and the disciples were not the same people. After they had got the cures they needed, or some ways out of their daily problems, the crowd might not necessarily follow Jesus Christ. Disciples were those who intended to stay and live with Jesus Christ for a period of time to learn more about the Kingdom of Heaven. It was to this group of people, not to the crowd that Jesus Christ talks about the proper attitudes of being Christians, His followers.
The gospel text today is the Lucan version of the Beatitudes. There are not eight Beatitudes but four Beatitudes and four woes. Although the forms are different, it is the same Magna Carta, the Basic Law for Christian living. Matthew portrays Jesus Christ as a Teacher more superior than Moses. Thus the Matthean version of the Beatitudes is more detailed and comprehensive. "So, be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect." (Matthew 5:48) On the other hand, Luke portrays Jesus Christ as a Merciful Shepherd. He understands the frailties of sinners and is not harsh on them. Next Sunday, we will read, "Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful." (Luke 6:36) Thus, four beatitudes and four woes are enough. Meekness, mercy, purity of heart and peace-making are not included (Matthew 5:5-9). Poverty is not elevated spiritually, nor hunger sublimes to justice. Then, what can we learn about the mind of Jesus Christ from the Lucan beatitudes?
Unlike the Matthean version which is transcendental, the Lucan version is very realistic. It talks about "are now" and "will be". Luke understands the limitations of humanity. There are always trade-offs. When we invest most, even all of our time and energy in secular business, whether it be money or status, and become rich, we shall sustain losses in other areas such as health, interpersonal relationships and even spiritual life. "For you have received your consolation." (Luke 6:24) In the parable of the Rich man and Lazarus, Luke speaks more explicitly, "My child, remember that you received (all of) what was good during your lifetime!" (16:25) The Chinese rendering of "all of" is morallistically superb! Many people know only advances and no retreats, including me. Convalescing in bed for ten days, I have learnt a lot!
By the living standards of Hong Kong, I belong to the middle class. Earning from my whole career, I manage to house and feed six mouths under the same roof. Making money has never been my expertise. Nor do I have the ambition to right societal wrongs. I only seek a stable married family life which enables me to worship God. Retirement gives me a new lease of life. I can serve God and the Church with all my heart and strength in the capacity of a permanent deacon. How can it be wrong to glorify God and save souls? Cannot! How can it be wrong, visiting prison inmates and running errands for them; reaching out to outsourcing janitors and advocating better working conditions for workers; sharing my forty-year experience of teaching Religious Studies with teachers and pastoral assistants; running prayer services and retreats? Nothing wrong! The problem arises from "with all my heart and strength"!
Truly, it is no exaggeration to claim "flying colours" for these three years of diaconal ministry. I am rich and have received my consolation! But when I fill up my calendar with services, how much space have I left for Jesus Christ? Where is Jesus Christ? Isn't He in my mother, wife, children and myself as well?
I am grateful to God and to Luke the physician that I have finally fallen ill and have time to stop to reflect! Sickness is not stranger to me and I have been sleeping with DM for thirty years. I am able to feel the abundant blessings within the inconveniences and sufferings brought about in sickness! It is no exception this time. I am able to see my poverty! Before Jesus Christ spoke about the four beatitudes and four woes, he "raising his eyes toward his disciples" (6:20). It turns out that Jesus Christ has always been gazing at me and speaking to me, but I turn my gaze to the wrong stuff and miss meeting Christ in his gaze. Thus, however much I visit prison inmates, janitors and giving talks/retreats with all my heart and strength, I have never served Jesus Christ "for one of these least brothers of mine." (Matthew 25:40) It is because I have not gazed into Jesus Christ, not improved our relationship and not known the Father's will. In short, my direction is wrong, my priority is wrong! I need to slow down and pray!
Brethren! Whatever you do, don't be greedy and ambitious. Meet the gaze of Jesus Christ. Don't waste your efforts!
God bless!
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